The Presents of Presence

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There are touching moments on the journey with loved ones with Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia that bring tears to our eyes. This one caught me and touched my heart. As a daughter and a niece, there are no words that succinctly fulfill the gratitude I have for this moment even though my family members are still able to identify me. But knowing that the progression of the disease may come to this moment, my heart fills with the precious and priceless moment that is captured below with a smile.

Even if you aren’t walking the path of memory loss, this viral video reminds us all that we are only here for a short period of time in which to tell our loved ones that we love them, that we are blessed to have them in our lives and to show them how much they mean to us every single day.

It’s never too late to share a special moment with your loved one. Do not delay dearest friends. We only have this present moment and as someone who has loved ones who have passed, it is harder when they are gone. Video tape precious moments with your family members. Take the time to make special memories with them. Be patient, be kind, shine your heartlight and be loving You!

When she takes my hands into hers, I feel a slight electric buzz, but knowing I am nervous, I shrug off the coincidence. But is it a coincidence or is it our energy flowing from one soul to another? Her hands are warm and dry and I feel mine begin to sweat. My mind pinballs back and forth between thinking this is just a lark and fearing that she has the capacity to read me. She knows this as she senses my apprehension and yet my willingness to literally put my palm in hers.

She gazes into my eyes and I decide to relax and go with the flow. My mind still is alert with worry as I do not know this woman at all. She is a stranger, but dressed in normal clothing. But there is something angelic about her that I can’t pin down. But I am trying to show her that I am not afraid of what she may reveal, yet I am worried that she’ll see into my soul with precision. I assure myself in my mind that I have nothing to hide, but there is a sense of anxiety buzzing through my body.

“Rest easy, dear one. This experience will not hurt, but only help you as you wander on your life path,” I hear her say and yet her lips do not move. For a moment I’m stunned, wondering if she is telepathically speaking to me or if it were my Guardian Angel or God or maybe I’m losing my mind.

She nods ever so slightly as the thoughts fly through my head. She knows what I am thinking! Yikes!

Without a sound, she turns my palms over to face her and gently holds my hands with hers. Nervous energy excites and frightens me at the same time. She lets out a deep breath as I do as well. Mine is to expel the pent up nervousness. I wonder what hers is? A clearing in order to read me?

She drops her gaze and studies my hands quietly. I feel myself relax and a warm serenity envelopes me. It’s as if we are in our own bubble in the world. She closes her eyes for a few moments and her breathing deepens. I can feel our energies mixing. I am willing to allow her to read me.

“What I am about to say, may not make sense to you now, but one day it will. Your life line is long, but breaks in various places. You have witnessed deaths and have been a death’s door yourself.”

I nod, not daring to speak.

“You are an empath soul, which means you love completely. You feel what others do. You are compassionate and a giver. This trio causes you much pain and yet reaps much joy for your soul. You are surrounded by a white light and many lessons. You are not finished with your journey here yet. You have much to learn, more to grow and many to teach. Your spiritual awareness is growing, but you fear the acceptance of this knowledge for it makes you different. But you are already different from the many people who surround you. You know this, but it feels solitary at times. Do not weep dear one, for you are never alone. Your journey is fraught with emotion, spiritual awakenings and compassionate understanding for yourself and others. You are tested. You do not fail, if you believe it to be so. The key of self-worth, knowing you are perfect, whole and complete in the Lord’s eyes will benefit you so remember who you are. Do not allow the superficial world to sway you. You are gifted and you must use your gifts and your power for good.”

We had both been staring at my palms as she spoke quietly, murmuring the reading for my ears only. In such a soft voice, she continued her reading.

“I see hardship. I see tears. I see betrayal. I see forgiveness. I see love. I see light. I see your Divine Purpose coming to fruition as you grow, learn and accept. I see acknowledgement, acceptance and spiritual understanding increasing day by day. Do not be content, but strive to learn, to grow, to universally connect with others. You will be taught and you will teach, that is the give and take of this lifetime.”

I began to choke back the tears that were falling rapidly from my eyes, running down my cheeks with alarming abandon. My nose was feeling drippy, but I hesitated to break the spell.

“Look with favor on this chosen path. Allow yourself the freedom to be yourself, to speak from your heart and to allow others to hear what they choose. Be one with the Spirit of the Divine. You are human. Mistakes are made, but the angelic reminders of your life will remain in small moments of the memory of others. Do not be afraid of financial gain. Put it to good use in order to spread peace with others. Connect with your blessings. Begin again without fear. Remind yourself often that each day begins a new dawn full of possibility. Live to your fullest ability for we know not our expiration date. Be kinder to yourself and others. Err on the side of love for that is where your strength lies. Meditate. Visit Mother Nature daily. Pray. Sing. Patience, dear one. Time reveals your golden path.”

Sniffling and trying not to gross her out, I began breathing deeply, as the sadness which had overwhelmed me by her words faded away gently without warning. She turned my hands over, clasping them in hers with a warm, long hold and then released my hands. My fingers fumbled through my purse immediately to find a tissue to sop up the wet mess that was my face and nose. She turned slightly in her seat to face the front of the plane, laid her hands in her lap and closed her eyes. I didn’t dare disturb her. Blowing my nose with embarrassed gusto, tissue after tissue, I dried my face, setting myself back in order.

As I leaned back into my seat again, I peeked over, but she was motionless, eyes still closed. I turned my head to look out the window at the sky. The most gorgeous rainbow I have ever seen appeared as if by magic. A smile grew on my lips as a warm sense of serenity spread throughout my body. I eagerly watched as the rainbow faded away as miraculously as it had appeared. I closed my eyes and fell into a gentle sleep.

I awoke to her nudging me as I felt the plane’s wheels hit the runway at our destination. She smiled at me, looking into my eyes and without moving her lips I heard, “This was my gift to you, dear one. I am as grateful as you are to connect and to have had this experience. Share it with others. Remember you are never alone. You are loved.”

The pilot broke the reverie with his announcement that we could begin to deboard and in an instant, she was gone. I don’t think I ever said much to her. I began to berate myself for never even uttering the word thank you while she was here as I was so mesmerized by her aura. Whispering to her spirit, I said, “Thank you my friend,” and I heard her voice reply, “You are most welcome.”

I came across this small bird just sitting in the grass in my backyard the other day. I actually walked past him within less than a foot and he never moved. I didn’t even see him on my first pass by, but noticed him when I walked back. He sat there for about 20 minutes as I crouched near him, speaking soothing words to him. He moved his head, back and forth and luckily I caught his photo as the sun dappled on the grass around him.

I wondered if he were hurt and if that was why he was just sitting there. After taking the photo, I sat nearby, observing him. After about 20 minutes, he simply hopped away and then flew as if he had planned for us to have this little visit. He never uttered a peep, but simply cocked his head in wonderment as I spoke to him. I wondered what he was thinking. Did he judge me for not noticing him in the grass when I walked by him? Or did he wait for me to notice him so that I could be present with one of God’s creatures? To me, whatever it was, it was a gift of nature for which I am grateful.

Many times I have had encounters with wildlife in my yard and in my life. Birds quite frankly, are not a favorite of mine. I had a hawk fly into my car and settle himself on the ledge of the passenger window IN THE CAR years ago. That is a true story, unbelievable to recount except in person because the intensity of my fears gets lost in writing the story. But the gist was that the hawk was chasing a sparrow who somehow flew into my car as I was putting something on the passenger front seat floor and the hawk came in right behind him. The sparrow ended up in the back of my jeep (unbeknownst to me) as I was completely unaware except that as I closed the door, I felt something brush my arm. It’s amazing to me that I was so lost in my own thoughts that day that I was completely detached from what was happening right where I was! As I walked around the car, opened the driver’s side and slid into the seat in order to go home, I was stunned to see a full-sized hawk on my passenger side, holding tight to the ledge, his back to me, looking out the window. I am not a bird lover in the least and I fear them, so imagine my fright! I jumped out of the car immediately upon seeing the hawk and started screaming in the parking lot of the local hardware store (on New Year’s Eve day). A man drove up next to me and I immediately ran to him stuttering that there was a bbbbiiiirrrdddd in my car and I needed his help! He looked at me as if I had lost my mind completely.

The man calmly walked over to my car and opened the passenger front door. The hawk stayed where he was. The man tried to get the hawk to move, but the hawk stayed there, even though the door was now open and he could easily fly away. After a few minutes, the man gently touched the hawk’s talons and he finally flew away. My gratitude and relief was palpable.

The stranger patted my shoulder kindly and told me I could now go home. I’m sure that when he went home to tell his family of the hawk in the lady’s jeep, they thought it was an incredible story. But assured that the hawk was now not my co-pilot, I got back in my car, turned the ignition and one of my favorite holiday songs, Pachelbel Canon in D came on the radio. As I listened to the soothing sounds, I took a deep breath and relaxed.

But not for long.

For as I put the car in reverse, looked behind me and began to back up, the little sparrow must have been startled and flew from the back to the front of my car, alighting on my head, his claws getting stuck in my hair which I had twisted up into a clip on the top of my head. Immediately I screamed, threw the car into park and jumped out of the car. I was jumping up and down, screaming now without any way to stop. Thank goodness there were no other cars moving around the parking lot that day.

Because of the frenzy of my carrying on, a few men came out of the store. I kept stuttering, There’s a bbbiiiirrrd in my car! There was a hawk (hiccup) and now he’s gone but there was a bird in my hair!!! The men looked at me, distraught blonde, over the edge in fear and anxiety and they laughed among themselves. Just as I had each of them go to a door of my jeep, the original man came out of the store and took his spot by the trunk. They opened all the doors of my jeep, checked inside and after a few minutes, deemed it bird free. I am ever grateful for the kindness of strangers.

Again, I got back into the driver’s seat, blubbering, hyperventilating and incredulous as to what had just happened. As I wiped my eyes, nose and face with a tissue, I took another deep breath to calm myself and calling a friend, I drove home slowly, birdless with an incredible tale for ages to come.

Has anything ever happened to you like this? Please share as I’d love to hear your stories!

I was lost in the abyss this morning, firmly settled in a quagmire of sadness, hurt and resentment. Beliefs that I had held so firmly in my mind and heart had unraveled to a point of no return and although I mentally understood, I wasn’t able to make peace with them in my heart.

Until now…

Here’s what helped me ~ advice from a dear friend…maybe it will help you!

A shift is a baby step, it needn’t be a giant step, it only needs to be an awareness of choice that we take. No matter your hardship – be it financial, relationships or health, you always have a choice. Sometimes a shift is merely the reminder that we have the ability to choose once we let go and remember we can choose.

Because remember…

We always have the free will of choice. Celebrate with me today as we embrace the dawn of a new day. We celebrate our gift of choice and we become the President of our own journey. Embrace your throne, and your position at the helm of your own perfect lifeboat. You are the captain, the pilot and the first mate of your own journey. Rejoice in the knowing of your soul that you are exactly in the right place in your journey on this planet. Find gratitude in the gift of a new day and a new chapter on which you write as you are the author of your life.

So today…

I declare a celebration for us all. Souls rejoice in the kind, loving choices we make for ourselves. Smile and shine your heartlights dear friends. Be free, let go and stand proudly in the wheelhouse for this is your life to enjoy!

Yesterday, I was blessed to have 4 different dragonfly experiences, including the 2 different dragonflies in the photos.

First, a dragonfly alighted on my arm, briefly, in my backyard, but long enough for me to notice him. Then he proceeded to zoom around me until he landed on a chair nearby to bask in the sun. Later when I went out with a friend to an outdoor cafe, we were sitting outside and as I was telling her the story, another dragonfly swooped over to visit, landing on me and then flying away, but not before my friend witnessed the encounter. Of course, we were thinking 3 is the magic number! How extraordinary for dragonflies to be flying in November in the northeast! It’s pretty unheard of due to the temperatures. Suddenly, my friend gasped and pointed ~ a ladybug was sitting on my right shoulder, but as I turned my head to look at her, she flew away.

Ok, 2 dragonflies, a ladybug and I made direct physical contact! I was elated. I wonder what it means?! Do you know? Can you help me?

Then I got lucky and as we were leaving the cafe, there was a dragonfly resting on a table and as we walked back to the car, we saw yet another dragonfly was on a nearby porch (photos above). Surely it isn’t normal for those dragonflies nor ladybug to be hanging around in November. Could it be an angelic visitor or 2 or 3? ♥

Have you ever had any encounters with a dragonfly or a ladybug? Please share!

Does anyone know the meaning of dragonflies and a ladybug? Any help is appreciated!

Holidays are coming upon us! Are you feeling festive yet? Have you seen the decorations at the stores reminding us that Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas seasons are on the horizon? Have you put away all of your Halloween decorations and begun thinking about turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing and pumpkin pie? Are you making plans for the festivities? Ready to share your bountiful gratitude with your family and friends?

I hope you answered a resounding YES!

And if you didn’t, then let’s begin today, for gratitude begins with you. In the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it’s important to remind ourselves what the holidays are really about ~ sharing time, your presence with those whom you love ~ and reaching out those special family and friends who aren’t nearby. What better way to do that, to remind someone of how much you appreciate them, than with a card?! Imagine your friend or family smiling when they open a card from you amidst the bills and boring mail ~ what a lovely surprise to know you are thinking of them!

The card above is one of my favorites from the collection for Thanksgiving. Who came to your mind when you saw this card? Want to send it without leaving your computer? It’s easy to do. Click below and enjoy a card on me ~ it’s easy to point, click and upload your photos, add some special decorations and mail your card all from your computer! Your recipient will get a paper card in the mail!